EP0839501B1 - Gerät und Methode zur Ausrichtung einer Knie-Totalprothese - Google Patents

Gerät und Methode zur Ausrichtung einer Knie-Totalprothese Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0839501B1
EP0839501B1 EP97308628A EP97308628A EP0839501B1 EP 0839501 B1 EP0839501 B1 EP 0839501B1 EP 97308628 A EP97308628 A EP 97308628A EP 97308628 A EP97308628 A EP 97308628A EP 0839501 B1 EP0839501 B1 EP 0839501B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
alignment
tibial
proximal
tibia
shaft
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP97308628A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0839501A2 (de
EP0839501A3 (de
Inventor
Lawrence G. Morawa
Kenneth H. Trimmer
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Osteonics Corp
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Osteonics Corp
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Publication date
Application filed by Osteonics Corp filed Critical Osteonics Corp
Publication of EP0839501A2 publication Critical patent/EP0839501A2/de
Publication of EP0839501A3 publication Critical patent/EP0839501A3/de
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Publication of EP0839501B1 publication Critical patent/EP0839501B1/de
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets
    • A61B17/14—Surgical saws ; Accessories therefor
    • A61B17/15—Guides therefor
    • A61B17/154—Guides therefor for preparing bone for knee prosthesis
    • A61B17/157—Cutting tibia

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to apparatus for establishing the correct alignment and orientation for a knee prosthesis during total knee arthroplasty surgery and pertains, more specifically, to determining the correct position and orientation of cutting guides with respect to the mechanical axis of a patient's femur so that the femur and the tibia can be cut to fit the knee prosthesis and the knee prosthesis will be implanted in an anatomically correct orientation.
  • the present invention is directed to apparatus for attaining appropriate alignment of a tibial resection guide relative to the mechanical axis of the femur and, consequently, relative to the mechanical axis of the leg of the recipient of the knee prosthesis.
  • the distal surfaces of the femur are cut away and replaced with a metal component to simulate the bearing surfaces of the femur.
  • the proximal surface of the tibia is modified in a similar way, to provide a metal-backed plastic bearing surface.
  • the metal femoral component of the new prosthetic joint transfers the weight of the patient to the tibial component such that the joint can support the patient's weight and provide a near-normal motion of the knee joint.
  • the long term performance of a prosthetic knee joint is dependant on how accurately the components of the knee joint are implanted with respect to the weight bearing axis of the patient's leg.
  • the weight bearing axis passes through the center of the head of the femur, the center of the knee and the center of the ankle joint. This weight bearing axis typically is located by analyzing an X-ray image of the patient's leg, taken while the patient is standing.
  • the X-ray image is used to locate the center of the head of the femur and to calculate the position of the head relative to selected landmarks on the femur.
  • the selected landmarks are then found on the patient's femur during surgery and the calculations used to estimate the actual position of the femoral head.
  • These two pieces of information are used to determine the correct alignment of the weight bearing axis for the femur, commonly referred to as the mechanical axis of the femur.
  • the correct relationship between the center of the femoral head and the knee joint and the rotation of the knee joint about the mechanical axis must be established. This information is determined from landmarks on the distal portion of the femur.
  • the correct alignment for the tibial component of the knee prosthesis ordinarily is determined by finding the center of the ankle joint and relating its position to landmarks on the tibia. This point and the center of the proximal tibial plateau are used to define the weight bearing axis, or mechanical axis, of the tibia.
  • the correct relationship between the ankle joint and the knee joint and the rotation of the knee joint about the mechanical axis are determined by reference to the distal portion of the femur and landmarks on the tibial plateau.
  • Various mechanical alignment instruments are used to assist the surgeon in making cuts on the distal femur and proximal tibia which will allow the femoral and tibial components of the prosthetic knee implant to be attached to the femur and tibia. These mechanical alignment instruments permit the surgeon to fix cutting guides in place with respect to the selected landmarks on the bones so that the cuts will be correctly oriented with respect to the mechanical axes determined from the X-ray image.
  • Intramedullary alignment systems use the inside of the femur or tibia, the medullary canal, as one of the selected landmarks for establishing alignment.
  • Extramedullary alignment systems use only the external surfaces of the body to establish alignment.
  • a typical extramedullary alignment system requires the surgeon to visually align a slender rod with the center of the knee and the center of the femoral head for alignment of the femoral component, then align a similar rod with the center of the ankle and the center of the tibial plateau for alignment of the tibial component.
  • the centers of the femoral head and ankle are found by palpation or are established with an intraoperative X-ray. If correctly placed, the rods will lie parallel to, and offset from the mechanical axes. Once aligned, the rods are used as a guide to fix the location of the cutting guides with respect to the femur and the tibia so that the cuts can be performed.
  • a typical intramedullary alignment system requires the surgeon to insert rods into the medullary canal of the femur and of the tibia. If properly placed, these rods should lie on the respective axes of the bones.
  • the mechanical axis is very close to the axis of the bone.
  • the axis of the bone is quite different from the mechanical axis due to the offset nature of the hip joint, and this difference must be measured from the pre-operative X-ray and used to correct the alignment of the femoral cutting guides.
  • Extramedullary alignment depends on accurate visual estimation of the alignment of the extramedullary rods. Location of the femoral head by palpation is difficult and error-prone, particularly with obese patients.
  • Use of intraoperative X-rays improves the result somewhat, but is time consuming and exposes the patient and operating room personnel to radiation.
  • X-rays also are subject to distortion and require visual interpretation and estimation to analyze correctly, as X-rays offer only one planar view in two dimensions.
  • Intramedullary alignment approaches provide only sightly better results, in that the knee joint alignment is still determined by estimating the difference between the bone axis and the mechanical axis from a potentially distorted X-ray image.
  • intramedullary rods must be introduced very carefully, not only to make sure they align correctly with the medullary canal, but also to make sure that the insertion of the rods does not create an embolism, which could seriously injure or even kill the patient.
  • An ideal alignment system finds the mechanical axia of the patient's leg directly, without the need for preoperative or intraoperative x-rays, estimation, calculation, location of hidden or obscured landmarks, or surgical intervention outside of that required for access to the knee joint surfaces.
  • the ideal alignment system depends only on the accepted definition that the mechanical axis passes through the center of the head of the femur, the center of the knee joint and the center of the ankle, in order to locate the mechanical axis.
  • WO-88/07840 corresponding to the preamble of claim 1 describes a system for the preoperative planning of a total knee replacement, using a telescoping shaft, a proximal coupling means for coupling a resection guide to a proximal portion of the shaft at the proximal tibia, and a distal means for locating the distal end of the shaft at the distal tibia.
  • the present invention provides apparatus by which the external alignment rod of the apparatus described in the above patent application, placed as described in that application, is employed to enable appropriate alignment of a tibial resection guide relative to the direction of the mechanical axis of the femur for a greater degree of accuracy in the placement of the components of the knee prosthesis with respect to the weight bearing axis, or mechanical axis, of the patient's leg.
  • the present invention attains several objects and advantages, some of which are summarized as follows: Enables the accurate location of the direction of the mechanical axis of the femur interoperatively, without invading the medullary canal and without the necessity for surgical intervention beyond that already required for access to the knee being replaced, to serve in the accurate location of the tibial component, as well as the femoral component of a knee prosthesis, during total knee replacement surgery; provides a relatively simple procedure capable of being performed quickly just prior to preparing the tibia for resection; attains a high degree of accuracy with minimal procedural steps and apparatus; enables a direct determination of the direction of the mechanical axis of the femur and the relative location of a tibial resection guide with less reliance upon visual estimation or interpretation; provides simplified apparatus capable of long-term reliable performance.
  • the present invention which may be described briefly as providing as an improvement in an apparatus for aligning a tibial resection guide relative to the direction of the mechanical axis of the leg of a recipient of a total knee prosthesis wherein the tibial resection guide is to be affixed to the tibia of the recipient, at the proximal tibia of the tibia, for resection of the proximal tibia, the tibia including a distal tibia, and wherein an external alignment rod is affixed to the femur and extends in the direction of the mechanical axis, an external tibial alignment shaft extends longitudinally along an alignment axis between an upper end and a lower end, the tibial alignment shaft having a proximal portion adjacent the upper end for placement adjacent the proximal tibia and a distal portion adjacent the lower end for placement adjacent the distal tibi
  • a portion of the femur of a supine patient is illustrated somewhat schematically at 10 and is seen to include distal femur 12 at the knee K of the patient.
  • the femur 10 is constrained for rotation about the femoral head (not shown) of the femur 10 and the mechanical axis 14 of the femur 10 passes through the center of rotation of the femoral head and the center 18 of the knee K of the patient.
  • the direction of the mechanical axis 14 has been determined in the manner described in the aforesaid patent application and an elongate external alignment rod 20 has been affixed to the femur 10, extending in a direction parallel with the mechanical axis 14 of femur 10.
  • Alignment rod 20, being parallel with the mechanical axis 14, is available for use in locating cutting guides for making the cuts necessary to prepare the distal femur 12 for the reception of a femoral knee prosthesis to be implanted, as described in the aforesaid patent application.
  • the present invention enables the employment of alignment rod 20 for aligning a tibial resection guide as well, as will be described below.
  • Tibia 30 of the recipient includes proximal tibia 32, tibial eminence 34 and anterior cortex 36, and is to be prepared for the reception of the tibial component of a prosthetic knee implant (not shown) by resection of the proximal tibia 32.
  • Tibia 30 includes a long axis L and distal tibia 38.
  • Apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention for the preparation of the proximal tibia 32 is illustrated generally at 40 and is seen to include an external tibial alignment shaft 42 having a proximal, or upper portion in the form of an upper shaft portion 44 and a distal, or lower portion in the form of a tubular member 46.
  • Tibial alignment shaft 42 extends longitudinally between an upper end 48 and a lower end 50 and upper shaft portion 44 is to be received within tubular member 46 in telescoping engagement adjacent the lower end 50, for selective movement relative to the tubular member 46 along a common alignment axis A.
  • Clamping means shown in the form of a thumbscrew 52 threaded through a collar 54 integral with the tubular member 46 at the upper end 56 of the tubular member 46, selectively clamps the upper shaft portion 44 in place at any location of upper shaft portion 44 along alignment axis A relative to tubular member 46, when the upper shaft portion 44 is telescoped into the tubular member 46.
  • Distal coupling means in the form of a lower clamp 60 is constructed as described in an earlier patent application in the United States, serial no. 08/552,594, filed November 3, 1995, and is mounted at the lower end of the tubular member 46, and, consequently, at the lower end 50 of the tibial alignment shaft 42.
  • lower clamp 60 is placed around the distal tibia 38, just above the malleoli, to be secured to the distal tibia 38, for selectively coupling and locating the lower end of the tubular member 46 and, consequently, the lower end 50 of the tibial alignment shaft 42, in alignment with the distal tibia 38, forward of the distal tibia 38, adjacent the ankle 62 of the recipient.
  • Alignment means is shown in the form of an alignment assembly 70 which includes a first carriage 72 integral with the lower end 50 of the tibial alignment shaft 42 and mounted for sliding movement along a first guideway 74 which, in turn, is carried by a second carriage 76 mounted for sliding movement along a second guideway 78 integral with clamp 60.
  • the first guideway 74 has a rectangular cross-sectional configuration and extends in an anterior-posterior direction for enabling the first carriage 72 to be moved selectively along the first guideway 74 in anterior and posterior directions.
  • the second guideway 78 has a T-shaped cross-sectional configuration and extends in a medial-lateral direction for enabling the second carriage 76 to be moved selectively along the second guideway 78 in medial and lateral directions.
  • First and second carriages 72 and 76 are moved to align axis A of the tibial alignment shaft 42 with the center of ankle 62. Once the axis A is aligned as described, a first thumbscrew 80 in the first carriage 72 is tightened to secure the first carriage 72 in place on the first guideway 74, and a second thumbscrew 82 in the second carriage 76 is tightened to secure the second carriage 76 in place on the second guideway 78.
  • a tibial resection guide 90 is to be assembled with the tibial alignment shaft 42 and located at an appropriate resection location for the accomplishment of the desired proximal cut along the proximal tibia 32.
  • tibial resection guide 90 includes a cutting guide surface, shown in the form of a saw blade guide slot 92 extending in a medial-lateral direction between the sides of the tibial resection guide 90 and through the tibial resection guide 90 in the anterior-posterior direction.
  • a plurality of holes 94 also extend through the tibial resection guide 90 in the anterior-posterior direction, all as more fully described in the aforesaid patent application serial no. 08/552,594.
  • proximal coupling means include an offset head 100 at the upper end 48 of the tibial alignment shaft 42 for the reception and selective securement of the tibial resection guide 90 to be selectively affixed to the tibial alignment shaft 42 by virtue of the engagement of the offset head 100 with a complementary channel 102 passing through the tibial resection guide 90, and an extension 104 thereof, in the direction parallel to the alignment axis A of the tibial alignment shaft 42 and having an inner surface 106 with a contour configuration generally complementary to the contour configuration of outer surface 108 of the offset head 100 of the tibial alignment shaft 42, at the upper end 48 of the tibial alignment shaft 42.
  • the tibial resection guide 90 is seated against a stop pin 110, and then a thumbscrew 112, threaded in the tibial resection guide 90, is tightened to secure the tibial
  • the resection location of the tibial resection guide 90 is determined by a stylus assembly 120 which is most conveniently attached to the tibial resection guide 90 prior to placement of the tibial resection guide 90 on the tibial alignment shaft 42.
  • Stylus assembly 120 includes a tibial stylus 122 mounted upon a stylus housing 124 and having a tip 126, and is selectively attached to and detached from the tibial resection guide 90 by attachment means shown in the form of a quick-connect mechanism 130, as more fully described in the aforesaid patent application no. 08/552,594.
  • upper shaft portion 44 of the tibial alignment shaft 42 is inserted into the tubular member 46 and is telescoped downwardly within tubular member 46, with the tibial resection guide 90 coupled to the upper shaft portion 44 of the tibial alignment shaft 42, until tibial stylus 122 of the stylus assembly 120 is seated upon proximal tibia 32, in contact with tibial eminence 34, with the tip 126 of tibial stylus 124 engaging the proximal tibia 32 along the tibial plateau 132, thereby placing the tibial resection guide 90 at the correct level for accomplishing the proximal cut at the desired resection level RL.
  • the quick-connect mechanism 130 accomplishes a highly stable attachment of the stylus assembly 120 to the tibial resection guide 90 in a compact and easily operated arrangement. Once the tibial resection guide 90 is located at the desired resection level, the thumbscrew 52 is tightened, thereby securing the tibial resection guide 90 at the desired resection level RL, and the stylus assembly 120 is detached from the tibial resection guide 90 by merely operating the quick-disconnect mechanism 130.
  • a proximal alignment member 140 is placed upon the upper shaft portion 44 of the tibial alignment shaft 42, as illustrated in FIG. 2.
  • Proximal alignment member 140 itself is best illustrated in FIG. 5 and is seen to include a block 142 and a channel 144 extending through the block 142, the channel 144 having a cross-sectional configuration complementary to the cross-sectional configuration of the upper shaft portion 44 of the tibial alignment shaft 42 for the reception of the upper shaft portion 44 within the channel 144.
  • a thumbscrew 146 is threaded into the block 142 and communicates with the channel 144 to enable selective securement of the block 144 to the upper shaft portion 44 of the tibial alignment shaft 42, as seen in FIG. 2.
  • An alignment guideway in the form of a slot 150 extends longitudinally along the block 142 of the proximal alignment member 140 and an opening 152 extends transversely to communicate with the slot 150 along the length of the slot 150 and includes a beveled entrance 154.
  • the complementary cross-sectional configurations of the upper shaft portion 44 of the tibial alignment shaft 42 and the channel 144 of the proximal alignment member 140 assure that upon engagement of the upper shaft portion 44 within the channel 144, the slot 150 is aligned properly with the axis A of the tibial alignment shaft 42.
  • the knee K With the proximal alignment member 140 secured in place upon the upper shaft portion 44 of the tibial alignment shaft 42, the knee K is placed in extension, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.
  • the tibial alignment shaft 42 is manipulated so that the alignment rod 20 is engaged within the slot 150 of the proximal alignment member 140 to align the proximal alignment member 140 with the alignment rod 20 and, consequently, to align the tibial alignment shaft 42 with the direction of the alignment rod 20, thereby aligning the tibial resection guide 90 relative to the direction of the mechanical axis 14 of the femur 10 and, consequently, relative to the mechanical axis of the leg of the recipient.
  • the tibial alignment shaft 42 is shifted, as required, during extension of the knee K, to receive the alignment rod 20 transversely through the beveled entrance 154 into the opening 152 and into the slot 150 of the proximal alignment member 140.
  • the tibial resection guide 90 is aligned relative to the direction of the mechanical axis 14, the tibial resection guide 90 is affixed to the proximal tibia 32, adjacent the anterior cortex 36, by affixation means, shown in the form of drill-pins 160 inserted through selected holes 94 in the tibial resection guide 90 and into the proximal tibia 32. Then, the alignment rod 20 is removed from the femur 10, the tibial alignment shaft 42 is uncoupled from the tibial resection guide 90, the knee K is flexed to ninety degrees, to bring the tibia 30 to the position illustrated in FIG.
  • tibial resection guide 90 is fully exposed for uninhibited access to the tibial resection guide 90 for resection of the proximal tibia 32.
  • a saw blade 162 of a saw 164 then is inserted through the saw blade guide slot 92 to accomplish proximal cut 166 at the resection level RL.
  • the present invention attains the several objects and' advantages summarized above, namely: Enables the accurate location of the direction of the mechanical axis of the femur interoperatively, without invading the medullary canal and without the necessity for surgical intervention beyond that already required for access to the knee being replaced, to serve in the accurate location of the tibial component, as well as the femoral component of a knee prosthesis, during total knee replacement surgery; provides a relatively simple procedure capable of being performed quickly just prior to preparing the tibia for resection; attains a high degree of accuracy with minimal procedural steps and apparatus; enables a direct determination of the direction of the mechanical axis of the femur and the relative location of a tibial resection guide with less reliance upon visual estimation or interpretation; provides simplified apparatus capable of long-term reliable performance.

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Claims (4)

  1. Vorrichtung (40) zum Ausrichten einer Tibiaresektionsführung (90) in Bezug auf die Richtung der mechanischen Achse (14) des Beines eines Empfängers einer Gesamtknieprotese, wobei die Tibiaresektionsführung (90) an der Tibia (30) des Empfängers an der proximalen Tibia (32) der Tibia (30) für die Resektion der proximalen Tibia (32) zu befestigen ist, wobei die Tibia (30) eine distale Tibia (38) umfasst und wobei ein externer Ausrichtungsstab (20) am Oberschenkelknochen (10) befestigt ist und sich in Richtung der mechanischen Achse (14) erstreckt, wobei ein externer Tibiaausrichtungsschaft (42) sich longitudinal entlang einer Ausrichtungsachse (A) zwischen einem oberen Ende (48) und einem unteren Ende (50) erstreckt, wobei der Tibiaausrichtungsschaft (42) einen proximalen Abschnitt (44) benachbart dem oberen Ende (48) zur Anordnung benachbart der proximalen Tibia (32) und einen distalen Abschnitt (46) benachbart dem unteren Ende (50) zur Anordnung benachbart der distalen Tibia (38) aufweist, wobei proximale Kopplungsmittel (100, 102, 110, 112) benachbart dem oberen Ende (48) des Tibiaausrichtungsschaftes (42) vorhanden sind, um die Tibiaresektionsführung (90) selektiv an den proximalen Abschnitt (44) des Tibiaausrichtungsschaftes (42) zu koppeln, und distale Kopplungsmittel (60) vorhanden sind, um den distalen Abschnitt (46) des Tibiaausrichtungsschaftes (42) selektiv an die distale Tibia (38) zu koppeln, vor der Tibia (30), dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Vorrichtung (40) ein proximales Ausrichtungselement (140) zur Anordnung am proximalen Abschnitt (44) des Tibiaausrichtungsschaftes (42) beinhaltet, dass das proximale Ausrichtungselement (140) eine Ausrichtungsführungsbahn (150) aufweist, die sich longditudinal entlang dem proximalen Ausrichtungselement (140) parallel zur Ausrichtungsachse (A) des Tibiaausrichtungsschaftes (42) erstreckt, dass die Ausrichtungsführungsbahn (150) eine Öffnung (152) zur Aufnahme des externen Ausrichtungsstabes (20) in die Ausrichtungsführungsbahn (150) aufweist, dass die Ausrichtungsführungsbahn (150) komplementär zum externen Ausrichtungsstab (20) ist, so dass auf die Aufnahme des externen Ausrichtungsstabes (20) in der Ausrichtungsführungsbahn (150) das proximale Ausrichtungselement (140) mit dem externen Ausrichungsstab (20) ausgerichtet ist, um den proximalen Abschnitt (44) des Tibiaausrichtungsschaftes (42) in Ausrichtung mit der Richtung des externen Ausrichtungsstabes (20) zu bringen, um die Richtung des externen Ausrichtungsstabes (20) auszurichten, um die Tibiaresektionsführung (90) relativ zur Richtung der mechanischen Achse (14) des Beines auszurichten.
  2. Vorrichtung (40) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Ausrichtungsführungsbahn einen Schlitz (150) aufweist, der sich longitudinal entlang dem proximalen Ausrichtungselement (140) erstreckt, und sich die Öffnung (152) in eine Querrichtung erstreckt, so dass der proximale Abschnitt (44) des Tibiaausrichtungsschaftes (42) im Schlitz (150) in einer Querrichtung aufgenommen ist.
  3. Vorrichtung (40) nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das proximale Ausrichtungselement (140) selektive Kopplungsmittel (44, 144, 146) umfasst, um das proximale Ausrichtungselement (140) und den proximalen Abschnitt (44) des Tibiaausrichtungsschaftes (42) selektiv zu koppeln und zu entkoppeln.
  4. Vorrichtung (40) nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das selektive Kopplungsmittel komplementäre Querschnittskonfigurationen (44, 144) im proximalen Ausrichtungselement (140) und auf dem proximalen Abschnitt (44) des Tibiaausrichtungsschaftes (42) umfasst, wobei die komplementären Querschnittskonfigurationen (44, 144) den Schlitz (150) mit der Ausrichtungsachse (A) des Tibiaausrichtungsschaftes (42) auf die Anordnung des proximalen Ausrichtungselements (140) auf dem proximalen Abschnitt (44) des Tibiaausrichtungsschafts (42) hin ausrichten.
EP97308628A 1996-10-30 1997-10-29 Gerät und Methode zur Ausrichtung einer Knie-Totalprothese Expired - Lifetime EP0839501B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US741434 1996-10-30
US08/741,434 US5788700A (en) 1996-10-30 1996-10-30 Apparatus and method for the alignment of a total knee prosthesis

Publications (3)

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EP0839501A2 EP0839501A2 (de) 1998-05-06
EP0839501A3 EP0839501A3 (de) 1998-07-08
EP0839501B1 true EP0839501B1 (de) 2003-03-12

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US (1) US5788700A (de)
EP (1) EP0839501B1 (de)
JP (1) JP3748686B2 (de)
AU (1) AU715650B2 (de)
CA (1) CA2219567C (de)
DE (1) DE69719663T2 (de)

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US7648510B2 (en) 2003-09-15 2010-01-19 Zimmer, Gmbh Adjustment apparatus
US7744600B2 (en) 2006-01-10 2010-06-29 Zimmer Technology, Inc. Bone resection guide and method
US7780671B2 (en) 2006-01-23 2010-08-24 Zimmer Technology, Inc. Bone resection apparatus and method for knee surgery
US7842039B2 (en) 2002-11-27 2010-11-30 Zimmer Technology, Inc. Method and apparatus for achieving correct limb alignment in unicondylar knee arthroplasty
US7993341B2 (en) 2004-03-08 2011-08-09 Zimmer Technology, Inc. Navigated orthopaedic guide and method
US8114086B2 (en) 2004-03-08 2012-02-14 Zimmer Technology, Inc. Navigated cut guide locator
US8118811B2 (en) 2003-02-03 2012-02-21 Zimmer, Inc. Apparatus for knee surgery and method of use
US8167888B2 (en) 2004-08-06 2012-05-01 Zimmer Technology, Inc. Tibial spacer blocks and femoral cutting guide

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EP0839501A2 (de) 1998-05-06
US5788700A (en) 1998-08-04
JP3748686B2 (ja) 2006-02-22
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DE69719663T2 (de) 2003-11-06
EP0839501A3 (de) 1998-07-08
AU715650B2 (en) 2000-02-10
JPH10174695A (ja) 1998-06-30
CA2219567C (en) 2006-08-01
CA2219567A1 (en) 1998-04-30

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